Principal

St. John the Baptist Catholic School, located in Madison, AL, serves students in grades K4
through 8. St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish and our school together have a beautiful 13
acre campus. Founded in 1996, St. John the Baptist Catholic School has grown tremendously, and now has a current enrollment of 384 students. Our student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, which provides our students with individualized learning. Over 90% of our graduates go on to continue their Catholic education at our local Catholic high school, St. John Paul II, in Huntsville.

St. John the Baptist Catholic School is a ministry of St. John the Baptist Parish. The school helps to foster discipleship in all of its students, helping each child to become the fullness of who they are called to be in faith and life. Situated in one of the fastest growing areas of the country, and serving an extraordinarily well-formed and invested community, the next principal will build on a tradition of excellence and help ensure that the school retains a joyful and rigorous program that is connected to the mission of Catholic education. As the chief witness of the Catholic faith to the families, teachers, faculty, and staff, the principal will have the opportunity to be a joyful disciple of Christ ready to help the school achieve excellence in all aspects of school life.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: Our principal serves as the school's
spiritual, instructional, organizational, entrepreneurial, and community leader.

As spiritual leader, the principal maintains the school as a mission of the parish; collaborates with the parish leadership team in advancing evangelization efforts; supports faith formation activities for families, students and their families; and integrates the Catholic faith into all aspects of school life.

As instructional leader, the principal plans, prepares, and evaluates the instructional program to ensure rigor; achieves well-defined instructional goals; encourages instruction which meets the various needs and abilities of the students; and facilitates the professional growth of faculty and staff.

As organizational leader, the principal selects, supervises, and evaluates staff; provides
leadership for school accreditation and strategic planning; ensures effective and relevant use of personnel resources and physical plant; plans the school budget in dialogue with the parish leadership team as well as engages other stakeholders and committees.

As entrepreneurial leader, the principal is responsible for sustainable financial planning,
human resource/personnel management, professional formation, facilities maintenance and enhancement, institutional advancement, and contemporary communication.

As community leader, the principal works with the faculty and staff to develop and encourage broad student participation in the total school program; keeps the parish and community informed about the school's programs; builds strong relationships between parents and the parish; and is responsible for communicating the philosophy of the school to the public.

THE PRINCIPALSHIP

The successful candidate must be someone who:
-Is a practicing and active Catholic, able to fully participate in the Sacraments of the Church, who shows an understanding of the Catholic intellectual tradition and commitment to the mission of Catholic education
-Exercises leadership, strategic vision, and a steadfast commitment to bearing witness to the Catholic faith
- Develops and fosters the unique characteristics of the St. John the Baptist Catholic School community, including the parish, students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and donors
- Demonstrates a willingness to participate in faith formation opportunities for continued growth and spiritual formation
- Has the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and parents to help them grow educationally, professionally, and spiritually
-Has an understanding of child/adolescent growth and development
-Has an understanding of finance, budgeting, projections, and capital campaigns is desired.
-Demonstrates superior written and verbal communication skills
-Contributes time and effort to institutional advancement: admissions, marketing, and fundraising
-Assures compliance with all laws and regulations, accreditation requirements, internal policies and procedures
- Possesses a Master's degree in Educational Leadership or other equivalent degree and holds current principal certification in the State of Alabama or is willing to obtain it

Preferred attributes:
-Successful experience in teaching and administration at the primary or secondary educational level
- Experience in church-related ministry with an understanding of the nature of a Catholic education
-Demonstrated record of leadership ability and accomplishments.
-Outstanding poise, presence, and communication skills
-Demonstrated experience in planning and supervision of strategic initiatives

All interested candidates can submit a letter of interest and their resume / CV to Dr. Daniel Baillargeon: [email protected]